I'm looking for a 3 month L Visa to China.

The idea is 6 weeks in Shanghai and then 6 weeks in Beijing, then onward to chill out in Cambodia.

I've heard all about the nightmare that is obtaining a Visa in Bangkok, however...

It sounds like they're going to require proof of hotel bookings/flights no matter where I'm applying. I'd be willing to go to Chaing Mai or HK if I could get around the proof of every night booked, but that sounds unlikely.

If I book everything a month out, that should give me enough time to get things sorted with the BKK embassy, yes?

What do you think? Split it between the two cities the best idea? I don't speak Mandarin so I'm going for places that have some experience with English.

I know Beijing has the most history to see, but my primary interest right now is in the rise of modern China.

Best of luck...coz you will need pots of it.

You are correct about the visa process in BKK. - I went through the mill with them to get a business visa with all the paperwork and still not good enough. took 3 goes. Standing in the sweating heat of BKK from 0730 to get in line.

If you are really desperate to go and you have money to stay in Hong Kong I believe it is easier as there are agencies that can help there but not in BKK unless you are Thai/Indian or even Filipino...

other than that you will have to make the bookings for hotel/flight etc and see what transpires in BKK ?

Best of luck...coz you will need pots of it.

You are correct about the visa process in BKK. - I went through the mill with them to get a business visa with all the paperwork and still not good enough. took 3 goes. Standing in the sweating heat of BKK from 0730 to get in line.

If you are really desperate to go and you have money to stay in Hong Kong I believe it is easier as there are agencies that can help there but not in BKK unless you are Thai/Indian or even Filipino...

other than that you will have to make the bookings for hotel/flight etc and see what transpires in BKK ?

Yeah I could stay in Hong Kong... But what's the best way to do that? Fly there and talk to the agencies? Cancel my lease and then fly there and talk to agency? Or make my bookings, cancel my lease and then fly there and talk to the agencies?

We all know the issue is that things get more expensive the closer it is to crunch time... I wouldn't mind Hong Kong for a bit, but wouldn't want to stay too long, and wouldn't want that Shanghai flight to be too much more expensive because it wasn't booked way in advance